Tag Archives: Hot Air Balloon Festival

Like many balloon festivals, the Third Annual Great Chesapeake Balloon Festival scheduled for August 1st & 2nd, 2014 will feature an exciting array of fantastic balloons for lighter-than-air travel enthusiasts. They have a foodie kick-off contest I’ve never seen before, that should earn it a place on Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods America.

Four Chefs from Easton, MD restaurants will meet in front of the Washington Street Court House and battle it out in the “Scossa Balloon Burner Bake Off Cooking Contest.” Yawn, another cooking contest, so what? Chefs will heat their dishes using a 15 million BTU Hot Air Balloon burner. The public is invited to watch. Yeah right. How many of them are going to singe their eyebrows or flambé their hats? Last year, at least one chef came prepared; his gloves look a lot like my suede fireplace gauntlets.

The Balloon Festival itself will feature at least 15 hot air balloons, skydivers, balloon rides, and a giant walk-through hot air balloon for children and adults. The event will take place Mistletoe Drive, off Glebe Road behind Aqua Pool in Easton.

It benefits Talbot County Paramedic Foundation, and is sponsored by Tri-Gas & Oil and Aqua Pool.
Balloonists will gather at Mistletoe Drive Friday, August 1st at 5 p.m. preparing for launch. Two hot air balloons, tethered to the ground will offer rides ($20 adults $10 children under 12) up to 60 feet in the air; and a large balloon will be inflated on the ground for children & adults to venture into the center of the colorful balloon ($2 per child). A special shape balloon will be premiering this year “Eddie & Rickenbacker” balloon featuring the history of Army aviation.

Image Courtesy of Great Chesapeake Balloon Festival

Skydivers from Baltimore Skydive will jump into the event at 6 p.m. just before the ascension of the balloons. Aqua Pool’s Glow will begin a half hour past sunset with balloons glowing through the colorful balloon envelopes.

Saturday morning, August 2nd, a Presentation of Colors will take place at 6 a.m. Balloons will begin inflation immediately following with a massive ascension. At 8 a.m. Chic-Filet will present a “Cow Drop” when a hundred miniature cows will parachute from the sky to the crowd. Each cow will have a coupon for a free sandwich from Chic-Filet.

Limited number of boarding passes to ride in the launch is available for $225 each. Persons wishing to make a reservation should contact Balloonmeister Ron Broderick 410-442-5566. Food and beverages will be available for sale during the events. The public is invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets. The event is free to the public with plenty of parking.

Want a chance for a high-flying experience at the QuickChek NJ Festival of Ballooning? You can take your chance and try to win a ride in the Angry Bird Hot Air Balloon. All you need to do is take a screen shot of your highest angry birds score, and the picture with the most likes or retweets wins. They will pick a winner on Friday, July 18, 2014.

The 32nd Annual QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America, takes off from July 25 through July 27, 2014. Featuring more than 100 hot air balloons from around the world, live concerts and non-stop affordable family entertainment, the Festival is a must on everyone’s list of Things-to-Do this summer.

The festival features the awe-inspiring spectacle of colorful balloons taking flight twice each day over the scenic Hunterdon County countryside, headlining concerts from Grammy Award winners, Rock-and-Roll Hall of Famers and the latest teen sensations, children’s amusement rides, age-appropriate family entertainment and attractions, the Running with Balloons 5K race and Family Fun Run, interactive exhibits from leading consumer brands, and hundreds of arts and crafts and food vendors.

Hot air balloon rides available. Book Rides early; they sold out all flights in 2013.
Balloon rides are $225 per person in the morning and $250 per person in the evening.
You will need to purchase a general admission ticket as well in order to get on the festival grounds.
After July 18, balloon boarding passes will be held at will call.